Ten Indian Army soldiers were killed and 11 others sustained injuries on January 22, 2026, when a bulletproof Casspir armoured vehicle carrying 17 army personnel plunged approximately 200 feet into a deep gorge at Khanni Top on the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. The tragic accident occurred around noon at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet above sea level when the driver reportedly lost control of the heavy vehicle on the narrow mountainous road.

Four soldiers were found dead at the accident site, while six of the critically injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries during rescue and evacuation operations. The remaining 11 injured personnel were airlifted and transported to military hospitals in the region. A joint rescue operation involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and local disaster response teams was immediately launched to extract personnel from the wreckage at the bottom of the gorge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the loss of life and directed officials to provide all possible support to the families of the deceased and injured soldiers. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed condolences and spoke with the Army Chief regarding the incident. The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers. The Army has ordered a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident, focusing on road conditions, vehicle maintenance, and the suitability of the heavy Casspir vehicle for the narrow mountain roads of the region.